08/01/17
Is Han Oak the best restaurant in PDX? No. But it is my FAVORITE PDX restaurant. The experience of Han Oak extends beyond what appears on the plate; eating at Han Oak is chaotic and fun with a capital "F". I would recommend going to Han Oak on Sundays and Mondays for "Noodles and Dumplings" Nights---no reservations, a la carte. The mentaiko pasta is one of the newer items on the a la carte menu. I have had it 5 times in the last few weeks. The variance has been wide. The best version was the first when Peter Cho (Han Oak's owner) made the pasta. Along with the pasta there is cured spicy pollack roe, kewpie mayo, butter and parmesan. It is so very decadent. It is both elevated and trashy at the same time. When the mentaiko pasta is "on point", it is like Stephen Curry at the free throw line----can't miss.